New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-04
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

STUDIES IN MUSICAL H5sTeF Ey0, By h sons DAVIS
serious books In the field Of musical literature
are published so seldom in the United States that
~ ia. with something like thrill OF
satisfaction that one greets Mr.. Davss
htslc volume. The thrill does not laSC
loug however Half an hours reading discloses
the fact that the title OF the book is nnsho'e1
an a double sense First Mr.. Daviss essays can
scarce,v he called studies" with TRUTH ana hoO
mt all studies in Musical History IL V"o
co,,rse of the fourteen chapters which make up
en-. hook there are furtve glimpses OF historical
socte mr. rather of statements which may DC louhu
an the old-fashioned histories Of music Burhey
and Hawkins evidently standing for all thao mus
cal history has to show to this somewhat oropi'"'
cssayist but there is no examination Vi 80
facts nor deduction Of principles from .nen
onn,ication of principles to musical pnenoien'
~, No. would seem to be implied In the ti'le'
.,o,e &c only rambling extravagant talk, mostly
,yitbout practical purpose. The chapter headinss
aoolr promisng spirit Of Jewish Music Inv
ty,st Christian Hymn "Ihe Mass, I" Inc Oi
gam 1.-The Modern Song" Here are su''e.''
Tor exceedingly interesting excursions III .no
fields of historical research. But he VINO opeiH Wv
nages with expectations raised by these tioes "i'
~ no is at all familiar with the SUBJECT OF ao"'
IN acquire knowledge of facts, experience sen
sation like that of biting into Dean Dc" appio
There are many pages Of highhown "ri'iils' ""O
the historical information which one eApeo'S W
find in them is of the most meagre deSci,p''o
we cannot spare room TO ahduce eN"np
Mr.. Dayis,s style Of study but must rest WIN
a few statements showing how i"' WV
disagrees with its title.
ANYBODY familiar with the many interesting
o,,ostions concerning the use of music In INC
tamn,e service of the ancient Hebrews, the CHAR
meter of their Instruments, the nature Oh uhe'r
rtualistic system, and the form OF thelr s"cio"
poetry, will realize at once how comprehcns.so
was the subject which Mr.. Davis proposed IN 'i,e
first of the chapter heads which we nave cheo'
What does he offer? Not q single thousht on any
one of these interesting questions but instead vi
this a mass Of rhapsodcal generalltles caicuia'eo
whenever they convey historical IDEA 10 convey
false one We would like to Know, Tor INSTANCE
what authority Mr.. Davis has for speaking IN
ancient Egyptan music as containing thin dis
connected harmonies' and poverty and attehua
ton of melodies" or for credting to 1t in spite OF
these things that seeking for the ethereal tha6
feeling for the beyond which gave to tone history
a beginning that through all the ages oil waltlhe'
held fast The promise OF its Immortality when the
laws should be comprehended and the union Oh
tone and spirit become forever one and lndiVlSi-
blen Ii Mr.. Davis has ever found anythhs III
musical history from Burney to kocks1ro Which
warrants such fustian about Egyptian music we
should like to know where. few lines further
down he speaks of substituting the ancient
Iryptian mode of clothing thought In tone 1or
"the yoluptuous, almost lurid, splendor OF the
music in Verdi's aida, and invites us to observe
how inexpressiby fiat and meaningless IL "ouiu
appear. The inference on the part OF reauer
ignorant of the history of music would oil course
be that we are in position to make such suosli'
tuition and comparison but the fact is, as MT DAVIS
knows or ought to know, that we know nothing al
all about Egyptian music We can surmise some
thing about its cultivation from few PICTURES
but we are not in a position even to guess whae
was "the ancient Egyptian mode OF clothing
thought in tone" THIS rhetorical SORT OF taiK
about everything under the sun except the estao-
lished or mooted facts In musical history Is put
out as STUDIES in Musical History In inc
chaptcr on "lhe Modern Song we expected TO
find something about the evolution OF the modern
song as an art form, and found instead rambling
tall, about how to sing and the Importance OF
GOOD accompaniment. There may be wisdom IN
Mr. Davis's remarks, but they are IN no sense
in